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Eduardo - Wenger is incredible

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva has hailed the support he has received from manager Arsene Wenger.

By James Dall

Last Updated: 16/02/08 12:31pm

Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva has hailed the support he has received from manager Arsene Wenger.

The Brazilian-born Croatian signed from Dinamo Zagreb for £7million in the summer, arriving with an impressive record of 73 goals in 106 games.

However, Eduardo has taken time to adapt to the English game, netting his first Premier League goal last December.

And the 24-year-old, who currently boasts 12 Arsenal goals to his name, has heaped praise on Wenger following the Frenchman's relentless support.

"Everyone knows English football is physical, so I'd been working hard ahead of that game with Blackburn," he told The Guardian.

Tough

"But it was still tough. You have to be strong and stand up to it but I never had any doubts about this move.

"If you want to make the most of your life and grab every opportunity, you have to go for it. Perhaps I gained confidence from what happened at Wembley [against England] but I never felt under more pressure.

"It helps that the manager understands. When someone like him says he is counting on you, it is incredible.

"When I arrived here, no one expected me to do what Thierry Henry had done but, even so, all I heard was that Henry had left, [Freddie Ljungberg had left and that we were going to finish below even Tottenham Hotspur.

"Everyone had put us fifth in the table but the players never thought that."